Government helps farmers facing seizures of their farmland



BANGKOK: -- The cabinet yesterday gave instruction for state bank side to help farmers from losing their farmlands after defaulting their debt payments.

Under the instruction, state banks are told to implement refinancing schemes for farmers facing the threat of land seizure as a result of default on mortgage payments.

State banks instructed to implement refinancing schemes are the Government Savings Bank, the Government Housing Bank and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives.

They were told at the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to come to the aid of farmers with minor debts who are facing seizure of mortgaged property as the land is their only means of their making a living.

The cabinet recommended refinancing for such debts and stated that it will be providing all the relevant information involving the more than 1.6 million farmers who are indebt to the center for coordinating agricultural debt resolution of the Ministry for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives.

These debts amount to 388 billion baht in total.

As for unofficial or unregulated loans incurred by farmers, the cabinet has handed the task to the Judiciary Department to handle while regular official loans will be handled by the Ministry of Finance.

Accordingly, they have also tasked provincial governors to play a more relevant role in agricultural sector debt reconciliation and must accomplish this task within August of this year.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/government-helps-farmers-facing-seizures-of-their-farmland

-- Thai PBS 2015-07-15

in another article, they also help teachers

& policemen, pity them with their small salary, they help THEMSELVES

it certainly looks as if the farmers debts will increase if drought conditions worsen although it looks as if the banks are holding and controlling the purse strings I don't think the government will pay off the farmers debts.

Use some of the funds now NOT going to be used purchasing useless bath toys for boys.

in another article, they also help teachers

& policemen, pity them with their small salary, they help THEMSELVES

If teachers and police and many other people were paid a respectable wage the level of corruption would more than likely reduce and the laws could be stiffened up to ensure that it did, rather than turning a blind eye to the acceptance that a bit of graft is necessary for many to survive.

Sorry.An inactive post

Thailand is by far the biggest and the most benevolent country in the world... they throw money at every

one and everything, stupid thing to do really as what they're really saying to their citizens is, "go on screw up

and spend wild, go silly and repeat the past mistakes,, we're here to cover you...always....."

do they ever learn? Never... why should they if papa and mama government will be there to the rescue?

The Junta has no real comprehensive plan to improve agricultural sustainability.

It's only solutions are populist stopgaps: cash subsidies, low interest uncollateralized financing, debt relief, cost of production subsidies.

This does nothing to improve profitability or market prices.

The Junta seems more interested in maintaining political sustainability.

It must be frustrating for the Junta.

Cleaning up the mess from the previous administration is still ongoing with the selling of rotten rice while trying to juggle sustainability of the industry into the future. The crippling rice storage fees alone negate any ability to funnel money into sustainability. At least there is progress being made in selling the rice or at least using it for fuel and pig feed to ensure the tax payers money is funnelled into more constructive projects.

At least the government have 7 strategies on rice as follows;

• Sustainable and stable rice development plan
• Creation of fairness in rice trade system
• Promotion and implementation of rice production and trade at a standard level
• Capacity enhancement of rice trade system
• Promote rice consumption value
• Creation of innovation
• Capacity enhancement of logistics management

What was the previous governments rice policy again? Give em 40% above market value and ensure democracy is based on the votes this unsustainable policy generates.

Well done to the government for balancing the needs of the farmers to the disasters failures of the past.

The tax payer and the majority through there support of you have made it very clear you are on the right path and you deserve the respect they give you.

Meanwhile teachers are being forgiven for blowing loans on what?

The Junta has no real comprehensive plan to improve agricultural sustainability.

It's only solutions are populist stopgaps: cash subsidies, low interest uncollateralized financing, debt relief, cost of production subsidies.

This does nothing to improve profitability or market prices.

The Junta seems more interested in maintaining political sustainability.

The only sustainable plan is ongoing subsidy, until this ageing generation of farmers move onto the next life and farming modernises in Thailand. Making a living with small hold is a perilous existence.

Pay them not to grow is the solution.